The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-08-25
A Word to Girls.

I often hear girls say: "Oh, I've got a new
pattern for knit Lace" or ave learned to
make paper flowers" Now, dare say knit
lace will wear longer than women; that paper
flowers, well made, are pretty decorations.
These things are ell very wCll enough for
play; but how many of you do anything
useful1
This does not apply to that large class OF
country girls who honestly work for their
living and are therefore respectable and
respected; girl who has sold goods all day
in store, tended machines in a factory, made
or trimmed bonnets, sewed for dressmaker,
can knit lace or make paper flowers at their
leisure, without remark or criticism from me;
they have earned right to amusement Of
any harmless kind; but when see, as Idosee
often, girls who spend their time walking,
driving, doing fancy work. dancing when
ever they can, liying-if this is lying--in
a self indulgent idleness, while theil
fathers and mothers are working hard e.
give them this leisure, | want to shake them,
Yes, undignified as it is, want really to
shake them. l want to shout in their ears:
"Girls, wake up! What are you doingl
What did God make you for? Are you good
for anything in heaven above or earth be-
neath!"
And, indeed, what are thsy good forl l
don't think they are OF any use at home;
they never get up in time for breakfast if
they can help it; they never offer to wash
the dishes, to sweep, to dust. If they make
their own beds it is under protest and COM
plant; and as for coo Iingl Hottentot
knows better how to pr epare a meal than
NatlN
ing would not pass muster at an old fash
ioued dame school. They don't help their
mothers in anything, not even by loving
them; for self indulgence is dry rot that
eats out all the moral affections, and leaves
in their place self love, self conceit, impa-
tience of control, disobedience, and all the
repellant traits that this self center throws
out from its daily revolutions.
What do they readl Novels.
Now, there are novels which are part of a
liberal education, which breathe life and
interest into the dry bones of historic record,
or impress great moral truths by vivid illus
trations; but the sort these girls read are
trash, if no worse. They live by such read
ing in an atmosphere OF finery, wire drawn
sentiment, ungovernable and therefore be-
witching passion, lofty airs of "high" soci-
ETY., falsehood, perjury, indecency, even
crime.
They do not stop to think that Lady Adeliza
Cunegunda Fitz Roy, in robes of ruby velvet
blazing with diamonds, and hiding broken
heart under clouds of Mechlin lace, commits
a breach of the laws of God and society that
ought to be be punished by prison for life
when the Irresistible" passion makes her run
away from kind husband with an old loveri
Nor do they consider that American girls,
living in small white houses, cannot have
boarders and morning rooms and libraries
paved with velvet, hung with priceless en-
broidelies, and set about with couches on
which they can attitudinize in incredible
clothes to receive their lovers; nor that these
lovers, being clerks i'll stores, railroad coll
ductOrs, young farmers, perhaps here and
there schoohnaster, or a budding lawyer,
would be curiously out of place in such a
position. Rose Terry Cooke